Improvement in circuit-changers



J. ROWE.

Improvement in Circuit Changers.

No.128427, Patentedlune 25.1872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPRVEMENT IN CIRCUIT-CHANGERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,427, dated June 25,1872.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES RowE, of Pater` son, in the county of Passaicand State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in TelegraphicApparatus, and the follown g is declared to be a correct description ofthe same.

Vhen the armature of an electro-magnet is allowed to come into contactwith the cores ot' such electro-magnetic such a way as to therebyestablish a magnetic-circuit, the armature adheres to the cores byinduced magnetism, and the parts cannot easily be separated until thepolarity of the current is reversed, which liberates the armature andthen again attracts it. This feature of electro-magnetism has beenemployed by H. Van Hoevenberg in connection with a printing-telegraph.

My invention relates to a circuit-changer in which two electro-magnetsare employed, and a soft-iron arma-ture vibrating between them,connected with a circuit-changing arm, the parts being arranged so thatwhen a pulsation is sent it goes through both ma gnets-it may be in onecircuit or divided-so that a part will go through each magnet andthereby reduce the resistance. rihe armature when free from magneticinfluence is at rest nearest to the magnet toward which it is to beattracted iirst. lt' an electric-current is sent through theelectro-magnets, the armature will be at tracted to the magnet which isnearest to it, and adhere to the soft-iron cores. If, now, the polarityofthe electriccurrent is reversed, the armature is liberated, and thespring of the circuit-breaking arm and the momentum draw the armatureaway from the first magnet, and throw it nearest to the second magnet 5hence it will be drawn by the attractive force thereof into contact withthe cores, and held there until the change of polarity again causes areverse movement, and this movement also given to the circuit-breakingarm, directs a local or other current in one direction or another, orbrings into action one circuit and breaks another, these circuits beingemployed for any known or available use. I remark that one magnet withtwo armatures connected with the circuitchanging arms, in such a waythat the two poles of the magnet are between the two armatures, may beused instead of two magnets and one armature, as described. I n thiscase the two armatures act alternately.

In the drawing, Figure l is a plan ot this circuit-changer, and Fig. 2is an elevation ot' the same partially in section. Fig. 3 is an ele--Vation of the modified form of armature.

The magnets a and b are in onev circuit, of which c and d are the wiresor connections. The cores, or the lateral extensions j and g ot' thecores are at opposite sides of the armature h, and there is the requireddistance between f and g to allow the armature h to swing on its axis1'., as the polarity of the current through c and d is changed. The arm7c should have a slight spring in it, or springs or weights be appliedto move the armature from one of the cores as the circuit is broken, andcause' its momentum to swing it nearer to the other core, so as to bedrawn thereto, as aforesaid. In this movement the armature moves the armk from one circuit-closing point, Z, to the other circuit-closing pointn, or vice versa. The wires ot' the local or branch circuits may beconnected with l n in any convenient manner, and one of the metallicconnections is made with the arm 7c, or through the axis on which itswings. The armature may be made in two parts, and these be connected toeach other and to the circuit-changer, so that the electromagnet willcome between the two armatures, as in Fig. 3, in which case thevibration and change of circuit will be the same as before described.

I claim as my invention- The soft-iron armature swinging from oneposition to the other on an electro-magnet, when the polarity ot' theelectric circuit is changed, and retained alternately by inducedmagnetism, as set forth.

Signed by me this Sth day of February,

A. D. 1872. r

JAMES ROWE. Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, CEAS. H. SMITH.

